Give a Girl a Break (1953)
Directed by Stanley Donen

Film Review

With three successful MGM musicals under his belt - On the Town (1949), Royal Wedding (1951) and Singin' in the Rain (1952) - director Stanley Donen was well into his stride by the time he came to direct Give a Girl a Break (1953).  What was initially conceived as a big budget extravaganza with a stellar cast ended up being one of MGM's less ambitious musicals and, lacking the star power of similar MGM productions, it actually proved to be a notable box office flop.  Despite the lukewarm reception it received on its initial release and the fact that it has been massively overshadowed by Donen's other great cinematic achievements Give a Girl a Break is one of the director's most charming and heart-warming films, and its lack of in-your-face showiness adds hugely to its appeal.

Debbie Reynolds and Bob Fosse (later to become one of Broadway's most successful directors and choreographers, best known for his popular musical Cabaret (1972)) are easily the stars of the show and form the most delightful couple as a wannabe dancer and love-struck star-maker respectively.  Not only do they get to play the most sympathetic and believable characters (the others are, almost without exception, blatant caricatures who struggle to win our indulgence), they also get the best dance routines, including a spectacular rooftop sequence in which they trip the light fantastic in a hail of brightly coloured balloons.  There is a similarly intoxicating dreamlike feel to most of the other dance numbers, each interpreted with stunning élan by performers of exceptional ability and staged with nothing less than faultless genius.  The only thing that lets the film down is its well-worn and mostly predictable plot, but this is a flaw that is easily forgiven on account of the shameless exuberance that ends up getting plastered on the screen.  It may look modest compared with MGM's grander musicals, and the dearth of memorable songs could be the main reason for its comparative obscurity, but Give a Girl a Break still has a great deal to commend it - a sweet, feel-good indulgence that leaves you craving more of the same.

Film Synopsis

Broadway producer Felix Jordan has a crisis on his hands when his temperamental lead actress walks out of his latest show Give a Girl a Break.  His director Ted Sturgis persuades him to organise auditions with a view to casting an unknown talent in the role.  Two hopefuls are selected - the ballerina Joanna Moss and an aspiring newcomer Suzy Doolittle - but Jordan still hankers after giving the role to an established performer and so coerces Ted's former dance partner, Madelyn Corlane, into auditioning for the part.  Ted's initial reluctance to work with Madelyn again soon wanes but his composer Leo Belney is adamant that Joanna should get the part.  The show's naive gofer Bob Dowdy sees things differently however.  Smitten with Suzy, he is certain she will be the ideal lead...